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[Singing of psalms is a teaching ordinance as well as a praising ordinance; and we are not only to quicken and encourage ourselves, but to teach and admonish one another, mutually excite our affections, and convey instructions. All must be done in the name of Christ (v. 17): And whatsoever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, according to his command and in compliance with his authority, by strength derived from him, with an eye to his glory, and depending upon his merit for the acceptance of what is good and the pardon of what is amiss, Giving thanks to God and the Father by him. Observe, (1.) We must give thanks in all things; whatsoever we do, we must still give thanks, Eph. 5:20, Giving thanks always for all things. (2.) The Lord Jesus must be the Mediator of our praises as well as of our prayers.] - Matthew Henry. |
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Imagine this hypothetical scenerio. Mrs. John is having her usual busy early morning as a homemaker. She has to clean, cook, take care of the babies, the phone is ringing on and off, and so many other chores. Her oldset son, Matthew, zips down the stairs and before zooming out the door says: "I'm going out to play with my friend, see you later, I love you.". Now another 15 minutes pass by and her youngest son Mark comes downstairs, he gives his mother a huge hug and a kiss and says I'm going out to the backyard to play ball, I love you mom". Again another 15 minutes pass and Luke the middle son comes downstairs. Seeing how busy his mom is, he takes the broom from her hands and begins to sweep, then do a real good and fast job on the dishes, he answers the phone and keeps doing things that contribute to the good of the home before things quiet down and he sees mom has settled in to finally relax for a little while with a cup of tea. He quietly walks out the door without saying a word. That evening, when before mom retired to sleep she thought of each of her sons; the two who loudly said: "I love you" and the one who uttered not a word wondering who LOVEd her most.
In 2 Thessalonians 1:3 Paul speaks of a love we are to have for each other that grows greater. Now hold on think about this ---- a love that grows greater. This is the nature of Christian love, .... to grow. Love is not just a few idle words, although I admit I myself have in the past used the word with haste; but love is an outward manifestation as well as an inward one. Remember also that love knows no limits. This was stressed in the first epistle to the Thessalonians where in chapter 4 the saints are exhorted in santification and love that they "may excel still more":
"Furthermore then we beseech you, brethren, and exhort you by the Lord Jesus, that as ye have received of us how ye ought to walk and to please God, so ye would abound more and more. For ye know what commandments we gave you by the Lord Jesus." (1 Thessalonians 4:1,2).
"First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world. For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his Son, that without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers" (Romans 1:8,9).
This is one of the truly beautiful and good things about avoiding modernism and seeking the old paths. We see in the New Testament how benevolent the early Christians were toward one another, they literally sold their property and distributed to all who were in need:
"And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul: neither said any of them that ought of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common. And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all. Neither was there any among them that lacked: for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the prices of the things that were sold, And laid them down at the apostles' feet: and distribution was made unto every man according as he had need." (Acts 4:32-35).
You just don't see this today if it be in or out of the church except on exceedingly rare instances.
Too often poor church members in need of benevolence are overlooked as funds are allocated for the exact same purpose but overseas or set aside for a "rainy day" when it is already pouring on the heads of several in their own presence.
We are commanded to go into all the world with the gospel, but God does not pay special attention if we concentrate on some distant land, as a matter of fact, in Galatians 6 we read:
"For every man shall bear his own burden. Let him that is taught in the word communicate unto him that teacheth in all good things. Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith." (Galatians 6:5-10).
We also know that the gospel has already gone out into all the world:
"If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister" (Colossians 1:23).
"Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began, But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith:" (Romans 16:25,26).
Now these believers in Thessalonica whom through the epistle are setting the instruction and example of growing in love for us today had a very interesting feature about them; again note what vv. 4,5 teach:
"So that we ourselves glory in you in the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that ye endure: Which is a manifest token of the righteous judgment of God, that ye may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which ye also suffer" (2 Thessalonians 1:4,5).
They were persectued, they had to endure afflictions; it says they were suffering. Dear friend do you see the connection? Love so often goes hand in hand with afflictions, persecutions and sufferings because when we experience these things we understand better when others feel them. This says alot about love. And of course, these things were all characterstics which Christ suffered while on earth and He is love.
Now 2 Thessalonians 1:6-10 draws a contrast, it speaks about those without love who persecute the loving holy ones:
"Seeing it is a righteous thing with God to recompense tribulation to them that trouble you; And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power; When he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe (because our testimony among you was believed) in that day." (2 Thessalonians 1:6-10).
The characteristics of those who are without love; they persecute, afflict, and cause the holy ones to suffer. But also note that they do not know God or obey the gospel of our LORD Jesus.
"Howbeit then, when ye knew not God, ye did service unto them which by nature are no gods." (Galatians 4:8).
We must also be careful here to note that just because we do not agree with someone else 100% on every doctrinal issue, this by no means justifies our making them an object of our own personal judgements. It seems that we can seperate those who persecute, afflict and cause us to suffer from those who just believe differently but mean us no harm:
"And John answered and said, Master, we saw one casting out devils in thy name; and we forbad him, because he followeth not with us. And Jesus said unto him, Forbid him not: for he that is not against us is for us." (Luke 9:49,50).
Those who answer our love with hatred will eventually pay the penalty of eternal destruction apart from our LORD. In life, the wicked often prosper materially, but we know this is only for a short time. They may be mighty and large in number, but there is no safety in numbers. Look at the catholic church and their vast heards of humanity that respond to such errors as brute beasts unable to think or hear for themselves.
Are we to despise them? No. We are to despise their doctrine but, on the other hand, want the very best for them, namely salvation. If they continue to hold the true gospel in contempt, we shake the dust off our feet and move on to one of the other 6+ billion people in the world who may receive it by the grace of Christ.
This is loving your enemy. Because those with false gospels are enemies of truth, they are doomed for eternity so we should desire that they should become saved if God so chooses to save them by grace. But until that happens, if it happens, they are caught up in their own folly and have no Saviour to pay for their sins. They need what only true believers inherit by grace, namely a work of faith. This is the "work of faith with power" that Paul speaks of here in our text this week:
"Wherefore also we pray always for you, that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfil all the good pleasure of his goodness, and the work of faith with power:" (2 Thessalonians 1;11).
The work of faith is altogether Christ's work and Christ's faith which saves:
"Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified." (Galatians 2:16).
Finally it is with power. Power here is from the Greek word "dunamis" from which we get the word "dynamite". It is the dynamic power of salvation by grace through Christ Jesus and this is the only way it can be attained.
So this week I encourage Christ's friends to continue to focus on giving thanks for the faith of Christ and for each other. There is no reason why we should not except perhaps unbelief. I say this because a true child of God will evidence thanksgiving and love in their life because God by His power (dunamis) has given us as holy ones all that we need pertaining to goodness and life:
"Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ: Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord, According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue" - 2 Peter 1:1-3.
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